Question

Growth hormone (GH) hypersecretion causes gigantism when it begins in childhood, but it is more likely to cause ___ when it begins in adulthood.

1) myxedema
2) Graves disease
3) Cushing syndrome
4) goiter
5) acromegaly

Answer 1

In adults, GH hypersecretion is more likely to cause acromegaly, a condition characterized by the growth of bones in the face, hands, and feet due to excessive growth hormone levels.

Step-by-step explanation:

Growth hormone (GH) hypersecretion can lead to different conditions depending on when it begins. In childhood, it results in gigantism, characterized by very long arms and legs and an abnormally tall stature. However, when GH hypersecretion begins in adulthood, it is more likely to cause acromegaly.

Acromegaly is a condition that results from the excessive production of GH in adults, leading to the growth of bones in the face, hands, and feet. Unlike gigantism, which affects overall body size, acromegaly affects only certain regions as the growth plates have already fused. Symptoms include broadened skull, hands, and fingers, as well as thickened soft tissue in areas such as the nose, lips, forehead, and scalp.